Date CARAMELS & Dark CHOCOLATE

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without a sweet treat now would it?! Here’s our family favorite…Date Caramels dipped in easy, homemade chocolate! The kids like them made with Ghee (clarified butter) which give them a buttery flavor, I prefer the coconut oil. Either way they’re a simple, whole food treat that you can feel good about eating. Dates are my favorite sweetener because they have not only nutrients but fiber, and the fiber paired with fat helps to keep your blood sugar stable so your cravings don’t come out to play.

Date CARAMELS

1 cup Medjool Dates (pitted)

1/4 cup Coconut Oil or Ghee*

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1/2 teaspoon Salt

2 Tablespoon Coconut Flour

*provides a more buttery flavor

DIRECTIONS:

Pitt dates. Soak in boiling water for 15 minutes. Drain

Put dates in food processor and add all other ingredients except coconut flour until smooth and creamy. Then add in coconut flour and process until creamy.

Refrigerate caramel for 2+ hours.

Roll into heaping teaspoon size balls or hand shape into hearts

Dip in chocolate (recipe below)

Easy, Healthy DARK CHOCOLATE

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup coconut oil (or ghee*)

1/2 cup cocoa

*more buttery flavor

DIRECTIONS:

Melt fat and maple syrup over LOW heat just until melted. Whisk well. Add in cocoa and whisk again until smooth.